scholarly journals Temporal and Spatial Distribution of Activated Pak1 in Fibroblasts

2000 ◽  
Vol 151 (7) ◽  
pp. 1449-1458 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary Ann Sells ◽  
Amanda Pfaff ◽  
Jonathan Chernoff

p21-activated kinases (Paks) are effectors of the small GTPases Cdc42 and Rac, and are thought to mediate some of the cytoskeletal and transcriptional activities of these proteins. To localize activated Pak1 in cells, we developed an antibody directed against a phosphopeptide that is contained within the activation loop of Pak1. This antibody specifically recognizes the activated form of Pak1. Immunofluorescence analysis of NIH-3T3 cells coexpressing activated Cdc42 or Rac1 plus wild-type Pak1 shows that activated Pak1 accumulates at sites of focal adhesion, throughout filopodia and within the body and edges of lamellipodia. Platelet-derived growth factor stimulation of NIH-3T3 cells shows a pattern of Pak1 activation similar to that observed with Rac1. During closure of a fibroblast monolayer wound, Pak1 is rapidly activated and localizes to the leading edge of motile cells, then gradually tapers off as the wound closes. The activation of Pak1 by wounding is blocked by inhibitors of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, and Src family kinases, but not by an inhibitor of the epidermal growth factor receptor. These findings indicate that activated Pak1, and by extension, probably activated Cdc42 or Rac, accumulates at sites of cortical actin remodeling in motile fibroblasts.

2006 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 50-62 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rashmi N. Kumar ◽  
Ji Hee Ha ◽  
Rangasudhagar Radhakrishnan ◽  
Danny N. Dhanasekaran

ABSTRACT The GTPase-deficient, activated mutant of Gα12 (Gα12Q229L, or Gα12QL) induces neoplastic growth and oncogenic transformation of NIH 3T3 cells. Using microarray analysis, we have previously identified a role for platelet-derived growth factor receptor α (PDGFRα) in Gα12-mediated cell growth (R. N. Kumar et al., Cell Biochem. Biophys. 41:63-73, 2004). In the present study, we report that Gα12QL stimulates the functional expression of PDGFRα and demonstrate that the expression of PDGFRα by Gα12QL is dependent on the small GTPase Rho. Our results indicate that it is cell type independent as the transient expression of Gα12QL or the activation of Gα12-coupled receptors stimulates the expression of PDGFRα in NIH 3T3 as well as in human astrocytoma 1321N1 cells. Furthermore, we demonstrate the presence of an autocrine loop involving PDGF-A and PDGFRα in Gα12QL-transformed cells. Analysis of the functional consequences of the Gα12-PDGFRα signaling axis indicates that Gα12 stimulates the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-AKT signaling pathway through PDGFR. In addition, we show that Gα12QL stimulates the phosphorylation of forkhead transcription factor FKHRL1 via AKT in a PDGFRα- and PI3K-dependent manner. Since AKT promotes cell growth by blocking the transcription of antiproliferative genes through the inhibitory phosphorylation of forkhead transcription factors, our results describe for the first time a PDGFRα-dependent signaling pathway involving PI3K-AKT-FKHRL1, regulated by Gα12QL in promoting cell growth. Consistent with this view, we demonstrate that the expression of a dominant negative mutant of PDGFRα attenuated Gα12-mediated neoplastic transformation of NIH 3T3 cells.


1992 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 491-498 ◽  
Author(s):  
N Redemann ◽  
B Holzmann ◽  
T von Rüden ◽  
E F Wagner ◽  
J Schlessinger ◽  
...  

Overexpression and autocrine activation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R) cause transformation of cultured cells and correlate with tumor progression in cancer patients. Dimerization and transphosphorylation are crucial events in the process by which receptors with tyrosine kinase activity generate normal and transforming cellular signals. Interruption of this process by inactive receptor mutants offers the potential to inhibit ligand-induced cellular responses. Using recombinant retroviruses, we have examined the effects of signalling-incompetent EGF-R mutants on the growth-promoting and transforming potential of ligand-activated, overexpressed wild-type EGF-R and the v-erbB oncogene product. Expression of a soluble extracellular EGF-R domain had little if any effect on the growth and transformation of NIH 3T3 cells by either tyrosine kinase. However, both a kinase-negative EGF-R point mutant (HERK721A) and an EGF-R lacking 533 C-terminal amino acids efficiently inhibited wild-type EGF-R-mediated, de novo DNA synthesis and cell transformation in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, coexpression with the v-erbBES4 oncogene product in NIH 3T3 cells resulted in transphosphorylation of the HERK721A mutant receptor and reduced soft-agar colony growth but had no effect in a focus formation assay. These results demonstrate that signalling-defective receptor tyrosine kinase mutants differentially interfere with oncogenic signals generated by either overexpressed EGF-R or the retroviral v-erbBES4 oncogene product.


1992 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 5152-5158 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Rong ◽  
M Bodescot ◽  
D Blair ◽  
J Dunn ◽  
T Nakamura ◽  
...  

The met proto-oncogene is the tyrosine kinase growth factor receptor for hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF). It was previously shown that, like the oncogenic tpr-met, the mouse met proto-oncogene transforms NIH 3T3 cells. We have established NIH 3T3 cells stably expressing both human (Methu) and mouse (Metmu) met proto-oncogene products. The protein products are properly processed and appear on the cell surface. NIH 3T3 cells express endogenous mouse HGF/SF mRNA, suggesting an autocrine activation mechanism for transformation by Metmu. However, the tumor-forming activity of Methu in NIH 3T3 cells is very low compared with that of Metmu, but efficient tumorigenesis occurs when Methu and HGF/SFhu are coexpressed. These results are consistent with an autocrine transformation mechanism and suggest further that the endogenous murine factor inefficiently activates the tumorigenic potential of Methu. The tumorigenicity observed with reciprocal chimeric human and mouse receptors that exchange external ligand-binding domains supports this conclusion. We also show that HGF/SFhu expressed in NIH 3T3 cells produces tumors in nude mice.


1998 ◽  
Vol 111 (4) ◽  
pp. 469-478 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.S. Woodard ◽  
G. Garcia-Cardena ◽  
M. Leong ◽  
J.A. Madri ◽  
W.C. Sessa ◽  
...  

Integrins and growth factor receptors act synergistically to modulate cellular functions. The alphavbeta3 integrin and the platelet-derived growth factor receptor have both been shown to play a positive role in cell migration. We show here that a platelet derived growth factor-BB gradient stimulated migration of rat microvascular endothelial cells on vitronectin (9.2-fold increase compared to resting cells) in a alphavbeta3 and RGD-dependent manner. In contrast, this response was not observed on a beta1 integrin ligand, laminin; background levels of migration, in response to a platelet derived growth factor-BB gradient, were observed on this substrate or on bovine serum albumin (2.4- or 2.0-fold, respectively). Comparable results were obtained using NIH-3T3 cells. Platelet derived growth factor-BB did not change the cells' ability to adhere to vitronectin, nor did it stimulate a further increase in proliferation on vitronectin versus laminin. In addition, platelet derived growth factor-BB stimulation of NIH-3T3 cells did not alter the ability of alphavbeta3 to bind RGD immobilized on Sepharose. The alphavbeta3 integrin and the platelet derived growth factor receptor-beta associate in both microvascular endothelial cells and NIH-3T3 cells, since they coprecipitated using two different antibodies to either alphavbeta3 or to the platelet derived growth factor receptor-beta. In contrast, beta1 integrins did not coprecipitate with the platelet derived growth factor receptor-beta. These results point to a novel pathway, mediated by the synergistic activity of alphavbeta3 and the platelet derived growth factor receptor-beta, that regulates cell migration and, therefore, might play a role during neovessel formation and tissue infiltration.


1992 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 491-498
Author(s):  
N Redemann ◽  
B Holzmann ◽  
T von Rüden ◽  
E F Wagner ◽  
J Schlessinger ◽  
...  

Overexpression and autocrine activation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R) cause transformation of cultured cells and correlate with tumor progression in cancer patients. Dimerization and transphosphorylation are crucial events in the process by which receptors with tyrosine kinase activity generate normal and transforming cellular signals. Interruption of this process by inactive receptor mutants offers the potential to inhibit ligand-induced cellular responses. Using recombinant retroviruses, we have examined the effects of signalling-incompetent EGF-R mutants on the growth-promoting and transforming potential of ligand-activated, overexpressed wild-type EGF-R and the v-erbB oncogene product. Expression of a soluble extracellular EGF-R domain had little if any effect on the growth and transformation of NIH 3T3 cells by either tyrosine kinase. However, both a kinase-negative EGF-R point mutant (HERK721A) and an EGF-R lacking 533 C-terminal amino acids efficiently inhibited wild-type EGF-R-mediated, de novo DNA synthesis and cell transformation in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, coexpression with the v-erbBES4 oncogene product in NIH 3T3 cells resulted in transphosphorylation of the HERK721A mutant receptor and reduced soft-agar colony growth but had no effect in a focus formation assay. These results demonstrate that signalling-defective receptor tyrosine kinase mutants differentially interfere with oncogenic signals generated by either overexpressed EGF-R or the retroviral v-erbBES4 oncogene product.


1992 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 5152-5158
Author(s):  
S Rong ◽  
M Bodescot ◽  
D Blair ◽  
J Dunn ◽  
T Nakamura ◽  
...  

The met proto-oncogene is the tyrosine kinase growth factor receptor for hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF). It was previously shown that, like the oncogenic tpr-met, the mouse met proto-oncogene transforms NIH 3T3 cells. We have established NIH 3T3 cells stably expressing both human (Methu) and mouse (Metmu) met proto-oncogene products. The protein products are properly processed and appear on the cell surface. NIH 3T3 cells express endogenous mouse HGF/SF mRNA, suggesting an autocrine activation mechanism for transformation by Metmu. However, the tumor-forming activity of Methu in NIH 3T3 cells is very low compared with that of Metmu, but efficient tumorigenesis occurs when Methu and HGF/SFhu are coexpressed. These results are consistent with an autocrine transformation mechanism and suggest further that the endogenous murine factor inefficiently activates the tumorigenic potential of Methu. The tumorigenicity observed with reciprocal chimeric human and mouse receptors that exchange external ligand-binding domains supports this conclusion. We also show that HGF/SFhu expressed in NIH 3T3 cells produces tumors in nude mice.


1991 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 1138-1145
Author(s):  
D Talarico ◽  
C Basilico

The K-fgf/hst oncogene encodes a secreted growth factor of the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family. The ability of K-fgf-transformed cells to grow in soft agar and in serum-free medium is inhibited by anti-K-FGF neutralizing antibodies, consistent with an autocrine mechanism of transformation. The transformed properties of clones that express high levels of K-FGF are, however, only partially affected. To better define the autocrine mechanism of transformation by K-fgf and to determine whether receptor activation could occur intracellularly, we constructed two mutants of the K-fgf cDNA. Deletion of the sequences encoding the signal peptide suppressed K-fgf ability to induce foci in NIH 3T3 cells. A few morphologically transformed colonies were observed in cotransfection experiments, and they were found to express high levels of cytoplasmic K-FGF. However, their ability to grow in serum-free medium and in soft agar was inhibited by anti-K-FGF antibodies. Addition of a sequence encoding the KDEL endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi retention signal to the K-fgf cDNA led to accumulation of the growth factor in intracellular compartments. The ability of the KDEL mutant to induce foci in NIH 3T3 cells was much lower than that of the wild-type cDNA, and also in this case the transformed phenotype was reverted by anti-K-FGF antibodies. These and other findings indicate that the transformed phenotype of cells expressing a nonsecretory K-FGF is due to the extracellular activation of the receptor by the small amounts of growth factor that these cells still release. Thus, transformation by K-fgf appears to be due to an autocrine growth mechanisms that requires activation of the mitogenic pathway at the cell surface.


1987 ◽  
Vol 7 (7) ◽  
pp. 2378-2387 ◽  
Author(s):  
C W Rettenmier ◽  
M F Roussel ◽  
R A Ashmun ◽  
P Ralph ◽  
K Price ◽  
...  

NIH 3T3 cells cotransfected with the human c-fms proto-oncogene together with a 1.6-kilobase cDNA clone encoding a 256-amino-acid precursor of the human mononuclear phagocyte colony-stimulating factor CSF-1 (M-CSF) undergo transformation by an autocrine mechanism. The number of CSF-1 receptors on the surface of transformed cells was regulated by ligand-induced receptor degradation and was inversely proportional to the quantity of CSF-1 produced. A tyrosine-to-phenylalanine mutation at position 969 near the receptor carboxyl terminus potentiated its transforming efficiency in cells cotransfected by the CSF-1 gene but did not affect receptor downmodulation. CSF-1 was synthesized as an integral transmembrane glycoprotein that was rapidly dimerized through disulfide bonds. The homodimer was externalized at the cell surface, where it underwent proteolysis to yield the soluble growth factor. Trypsin treatment of viable cells cleaved the plasma membrane form of CSF-1 to molecules of a size indistinguishable from that of the extracellular growth factor, suggesting that trypsinlike proteases regulate the rate of CSF-1 release from transformed cells. The data raise the possibility that this form of membrane-bound CSF-1 might stimulate receptors on adjacent cells through direct cell-cell interactions.


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